Mark Kite

1921 - 2007

Mark Kite, 85, passed away peacefully at home Sunday, April 29, 2007.

Funeral: Noon Wednesday at North Hills Funeral Home, 8525 Mid-Cities Blvd. Burial: 3 p.m. Wednesday in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Visitation: The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Mark Hubert Kite, the son of Hubert Addison Kite and Maude Eugenie Guidry-Kite, was born Oct. 14, 1921, in Church Pointe, La.

Mark was as at home in a Paris cafe as he was in his easy chair cheering on the Cowboys and Mavericks. A mesmerizing storyteller and voracious reader, he passed on his "math gene" and love of learning to all four grandkids. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he lives on in the hearts of his family and friends.

Mark graduated from Kaplan High School in 1936 and was employed as a city clerk for the city of Kaplan, La., from 1938-1942.

In 1942, Mark enlisted in the U.S. Army and took his basic training at Camp Livingston, La. After basic training he was transferred to the Army Air Corps, where he took his basic flight training in Santa Anna, Calif., and at Mather Field in Sacramento, Calif. By the time he completed his training, World War II had ended. He served a tour of duty in Japan from 1945-1948. During his Japanese assignment, Mark flew throughout the Pacific theater. He returned to the United States in 1948 and was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base near Shreveport, La.

During the period of 1948-1949, Mark was placed on temporary duty in Celle, Germany, flying C-54 aircraft during the Berlin airlift. His cargo throughout was coal, three round trips a day from Celle to Berlin and back. On May 4, 1949, the Berlin blockade was lifted and Mark returned to the U.S.

On Sept. 20, 1950, he married Madge Fletcher, daughter of Luther and Maude Poche Fletcher. Madge and Mark made their first home at Reese Air Force Base. In 1953, Mark left the Air Force with the rank of major and returned to Kaplan, La., then entered college at Southwestern Louisiana Institute, majoring in engineering.

He was listed in Who's Who Among Students In American Universities and Colleges and was a member of Delta Sigma Honor Engineering Society. He graduated with honors in 1957. Shortly after graduation he was employed by General Dynamics Corp. During his career there he participated in the design of several aircraft, including the B-58 bomber and the F-111 and the F-16 fighters. He also served as a manager at General Dynamics in Brussels, Belgium. He retired from General Dynamics in 1991. After retiring, Mark and Madge made their home in North Richland Hills.

The family expresses profound gratitude to the angels on earth, Team 2 of Vitas Hospice.

Survivors: His loving wife of 56 years, Madge; daughter, Melissa Lebahn and husband, Larry; son, Matthew Kite and wife, Valerie; grandchildren, Nicole and Kimberly Lebahn and Christopher and Caitlin Kite; brothers, Albert Roy Kite and Joseph Charles Kite; and many other relatives and cherished friends.